Folding utility table with handle lock means



Nov. 18, 1952 Filed April 25, 1951 Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FOLDING UTILITY TABLE WITH HANDLE LOCK MEANS William C.Panzer, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 25, 1951, Serial No. 222,830

' 2 Claims.

This invention relates to folding utility table or the like which may beadvantageously used for mounting a table model radio or televsion set,or may be used for setting in front of a television set for the purposeof serving refreshments while the television is being viewed, or for anyother purpose for which a small, easily handled and compactly foldabletable is suited.

In an important aspect, the present invention provides handle means forthe table, forming a permanent part of the table, and interengagingreleasable means between the handles and one of the foldable tablesections so that, when in engaged position, the handles are effective assuch and at the same time accidental folding or collapse of the table isprevented, the handles being readily releasable from engaging positionto permit folding the table and may themselves be folded into thecompass thereof, for convenience and compactness.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, ofan illustrative embodiment of the invention, and in which drawings-'-Figure 1 is a perspective .view showing the table in usable, openposition, and with the handles engaged;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the table of Fig.1 in the region of one of the handles;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2, the handle being broken away andsectioned at one end for clearness of description;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.2; and

Figure 5 is a .view, on the scale of Figs. 2, 3 and 4, of the upper endof the table in folded position.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in thedrawings, the table here shown includes a pair of crossed legs l2 ateach side of the table. The legs of each pair are mutually articulatedas by a hinge rivet l3, so that the legs may be folded either toparallel relationship or may be open to X-form to support the table inusable position. Braces l4 may extend from each leg of a pair to thecomplementaiy leg of the other pair to strengthen the table. The legsmay be economically formed of channel rolled sheet metal and the bracesof flat strips.

At their upper ends, a leg of each pair is articulated, as by a, hingerivet l5 with a hinge lug It fixedly secured on the inner face of adepending skirt ll of the adjacent table top section l8. The

other leg of offset pairs is similarly articulated to the hinge lug [6of the complementary table top section l9. The table top sections areadvantageously of sheet metal.

Table top sections l8 and [9 are articulated as by overlapping hingeears 20 and a hinge rivet Eda passing through each pair of hinge ears 29at each side of the table. Thus the table top, which is formed jointlyby the table top sections l8 and [9, has an intermediate hinge whichpermits the table top to open and close along a line Ila extendingcentrally of the table top and connecting the planes of the pairs ofX-shape legs at each side of the table.

More particularly following the present invention, a pair of arch shapehandles 2| are provided, one at each side of the table at the sideswhere the legs are located, these handles desirably serving a two-foldpurpose of providing lifting means for the table and also releasablelocking means for preventing accidental folding or collapse of thetable. They may serve still a third purpose of guarding against slippingof an article off the table. The handles as shown are conveniently eachof flat sheet metal.

As here shown, each handle is articulated, at one end 2la, as by hingerivet 22 with one of the table top sections, in this instance thesection IS, the rivet 22 passing through the depending skirt ll of thesheet metal table top. The other end Zlb of the handle is free but isadapted to make releasable engagement with the table section l9, thatis, on the opposite side of the table top hinge 29a. For this purpose,in this instance, the handle has its free end turned upon itself as at23 to provide a hook which snugly receives the table top skirt [1, thuspermitting lifting of the table by the handles, each of which is at suchtime secured at both ends to the table top.

To insure that lifting of the table by the handles shall not cause afolding movement of the table top sections on the hinge 26a and also toguard against any other accidental rotative movement of the handle andthe table top section which would tend to collapse the table,interengaging means are provided between the free end of the handle andthe table top skirt H to pre-- vent such relative rotative movement,such interengaging means being here illustrated by a lug or boss 24 onthe skirt l'i projecting into the plane of the handle immediatelyadjacent the free end 2 lb of the handle and between that end and thehinge 20a. Thus, upon lifting of the table by the handles, abutment ofthe vertically extended face He of the handle free end 2lb with thevertically extended face 24a of the boss 24 inhibits relative rotativemovement of the handle and table top and prevents accidental folding orcollapse of the table.

When, however, it is desired to collapse or fold the table, for example,for storage purposes, as indicated in Fig. 5, the free end of the handlemay be moved downwardly to free it from engagement with the skirt I? andthereupon the table top may be folded on the hinge 20a, the legs at thistime folding to complete parallelism in a single plane for permittingthe table top sections to fold to parallel relationship each in a planeclosely adjacent to the plane of the legs. At this time also, thehandles may be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein they aresubstantially within the compass of the parallel planesof the table topsections.

The inwardly turned hook portion 23 of the handle is desirably flared atits entrance end 23a to permit easy reception of the table top skirt1'7, whereupon the hook tightly grips the skirt.

To provide ample room for the hand of the.

user, the handle is desirably longer than its height, as shown, and,toprovide a desirable grip portion on the handle, as. well as forornamentation, the upper end of the handle is shown scallopedas at 25.

The invention-is not intended to be limited to details of constructionhere shown for purposes of exemplification, and such changes may be madeas fall within the scope of the appended claims without departingtherefrom.

The invention having been described, what is here claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, in a folding utility table or the like,including folding legs and a sheet metal sectioned folding top having anintermediate hinge, the top having a depending skirt, that improvementcomprising, a pair of .4 arch-shape sheet metal handles each having oneend pivoted to an edge of the table on one side of the hinge and havinga second end for engagement under an edge of the table on the oppositeside of said hinge, said second handle end being bent upon itself toform a hook snugly receiving the skirt of the table top, and said skirthaving an embossment between the hinge and said second end and abuttingsaid second end to prevent relative rotation of the handle and the topwhen the said second end is engaged therewith, said engagement beingreleasable by moving said second handle end downwardly to fold thetable.

2. As an article of manufacture, in a folding utility table or the likeincluding folding legs and a sectional top having an intermediate hinge,that improvement comprising, a pair of handles each having one endpivoted to an edge of the table on a section on one side of the hingeand having its other end for releasable engagement with an edge of thetable on the section on the opposite side of said hinge, therebeinginterengaging means on the handle and table for inhibiting relativerotative movement of the,

handle and table top when said engagement is effected.

WILLIAM C. PANZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe" file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 965,467 Johnson July 26, 19101,353,866 Vondree Sept. 28, 1920 1,709,540 Prichet Apr. 16, 19291,840,492 Duggan Jan. 12, 1932 1,930,176 Metzler Oct. 10, 1933 2,416,621Gretschel Feb. 25, 1947

